privacy

01/08/2021 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

5 Smart Tips for Safe Online Shopping in 2021

Online shopping is fast becoming the new norm. Thanks to the freedom, convenience, and ease it offers, you're probably thinking of doing it yourself. However, one of the biggest concerns most online shoppers have is security which is why we recommend to only access trusted shopping sites such as https://www.shoppok.com/bikes-for-sale-cg/hutch-bmx-sp. How secure are your financial details on shopping websites?

Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe in 2021.

1. Start with trusted sites

There are millions of online retail sites today. Most of them are legitimate, but some contain links to spam and malicious content. You, therefore, need to be extra careful when searching for a shopping website.

First, start with the popular and well-known sites like Amazon.com or Ebay.com. You're less likely to be scammed on these sites since you've probably used them before. You can also try your favorite retail stores if they're online, but ensure you know the right web addresses.

Be on the lookout for the popular domain misspelling scams, for instance, a hacker may use Amazon.net instead of Amazon.com. These tricks have been successful for years because they're not conspicuous at first glance.

2. Look for HTTPS URL and a padlock icon

Before sharing your credit union information on an online shopping site, here are the two rules you should follow: Ensure the site’s URL starts with HTTPS, and confirm that a locked padlock icon appears slightly left of the URL bar. (Click here for a full list of privacy tips while shopping online)

The (S) in HTTPS stands for secure and shows that the shopping website has integrated a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. The locked padlock (sometimes green) indicates that your connection to the website is secure.

Avoid sharing any information on sites with just HTTP and without the padlock.

3. Don’t shop over public wi-fi

We’ve heard stories about public wi-fi hotspots and cybercriminals countless times. By now, you should know that while shopping using public Wi-Fi seems convenient, it leaves your data in the hands of hackers.

Personal information such as your credit card details, bank details, phone number, and your emails are but a few of the data a hacker can manipulate from the vulnerabilities of unsecure Wi-Fi.

So, instead of exposing yourself to that much risk, always use your data to complete your online shopping transactions. And if you really have to use Wi-Fi, a simple VPN download will go a long way to improving your security.

But still, if you can avoid insecure public Wi-Fi, do yourself a favor and do it.

4. Keep your software up-to-date

Updating your software is the #1 online security measure every security expert recommends. Whether you're shopping on your phone, laptop, or tablet, ensure that the operating system is up-to-date with the latest updates.

Updating your software fixes any vulnerabilities that cybercriminals may exploit to send malware into your system.

5. Avoid ‘too good to be true’ offers

In any e-commerce store, if any product pricing appears to be too good to be true, it probably is. Don't trust any seller offering such an offer. This is usually a trap by some sellers to collect your credit card information among other data, so they can sell it. In other cases, the product might be of very poor quality. And if you need cargo shorts, make sure to check out different options from sites like https://www.unionbay.com/collections/cargo-shorts-for-men.

Conclusion

When shopping online, getting scammed isn’t just a far-fetched idea. It happens to millions of people every day. You should therefore be careful with how you go about the process if you want to avoid it. With the tips above, we’re confident that you’ll always be one step ahead of the criminals.

Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash

How Much Can Identity Theft Impact Your Life?

Identity theft is at an all-time high in today’s digital world. Identity theft can happen to anyone including teenagers browsing their smartphones to middle-aged families securing their nest egg. Security is no longer guaranteed and crucial steps need to be taken to make sure safety is within reach. Last year alone, 15 million people lost over $16 billion due to identity theft. Identity theft doesn’t stop with just bank accounts either. Medical records, credit scores, and even criminal records are at a higher risk.

The most common form of identity theft starts with an unauthorized credit card or bank account charge. About 86% of fraud victims initially notice the intrusion by noticing an unauthorized charge on their bank account or credit card. Those diligent enough to find the unauthorized charges early usually have the charge taken care of within a couple of hours. Not all cases are so quick. Some identity theft cases can take years to resolve and 25% of cases are never fully solved. As a freelancer, you also need to understand the importance of protecting your credit as well.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking platforms have become a hotbed for identity theft. Social networkers have a 46% higher risk of identity theft. Online shopping also carries a higher risk. Your risk raises 30% online than in traditional brick and mortar stores. Taking steps such as clearing your card information in your browser, creating complex passwords, and securing your online shopping purchases can help protect that extra money you worked hard for safe from identity theft.

Whether you’re 18 and graduating high school or 80 and making your retirement fund last, keeping an eye on your digital footprint is more important than ever. Check out the infographic from Investment Zen below. It shows extra information on the risks of identity fraud as well as a additional information to keep you safe from harm. If you suspect identity fraud at any time, call the Federal Trade Commission and file a report.

Via: InvestmentZen.com

10/04/2017 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

4 Reasons Security Cards or Badges Are Essential for Your Business

Every business must maintain control of the movements in and out of its facilities at all times. Most businesses have adopted modern security technologies, especially at the main entrances to secure their assets. Employees are required to key in certain codes or use biological characteristics to access facilities. Some of these technologies have replaced security badges. Many businesses now rely on digital IDs instead of traditional badges. While modern technologies are more reliable than traditional security measures, businesses need to maintain ID badges. Here are the main advantages of security badges.

Enhanced security

The main reason why ID cards were introduced was to improve security in organizations. Businesses can control movements in their premises when employees and visitors display badges at all times. Security personnel can also identify the employees or visitors who have access to different rooms or sections in a day. Most identification badges have magnetic strips that enable employees to access each room. It is easy to track movements when security cards are integrated with other security technologies in the facilities. In addition, the ID cards have photos of the rightful owners, which eliminates the possibility of sharing security badges.

Better customer relationships

Personalized customer service is hard to achieve in large organizations. Such organizations attend to tens of customers every day who have just a few minutes with the employees. In fact, most organizations have replaced face-to-face interactions with emails, phone calls, and chats. Some clients still prefer to the traditional methods of communication and will prefer to speak to the customer service staff in person. When staff members have security badges on them, customers can identify the staff with their name and position.

Improving employee accountability

A business must involve its employees in its efforts to keep all assets secure. Employees organize most of the security breaches in organizations. ID cards make employees accountable for their movements and actions. With enhanced features on the badges, security personnel can track all the movements. Employees are aware of these possibilities and are less likely to access restricted areas.

Building employee relations

In a small business, employees can identify their workmates with their names and positions. The same is impossible in large organizations where new employees are hired every other month. Building employee relationships is harder when employees have different work shifts. However, employees can learn their colleagues’ names from their security badges. The badges are helpful to new employees who may take a longer period to know all the employees in the organization. Managers can also identify employees with their names and departments easily.

New security technologies emerge every year to help businesses secure their facilities and assets. The technologies are more reliable and harder to breach than the traditional technologies. However, some traditional measures such as security badges are still relevant to the modern business world. The benefits of security badges go beyond securing the business, along with other methods of keeping your workplace safe and secure. The badges enhance relationships among employees and between employees and clients. Security badges work best when integrated with other security technologies in the business.